Don’t Say There’s Nothing To Do

Here is a listing of some of the more popular or unique recreation activities available in each Ventura County city and countywide:

City By City

CAMARILLO

* Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District

482-1996

Offers a variety of courses and sporting activities, including summer softball and basketball leagues, junior golf lessons, cartoon drawing and swing dance classes.

* Paint Pals Clubhouse

383-7176

A hands-on arts center that offers ceramic painting, sand bottle art, spin art, karaoke, puzzles, games and a black-light room.

* Ventura County Gymnastics Center

482-1187

Varying degrees of lessons and competitive teams, tumbling and cheerleading classes.

* Camarillo Youth Theater

388-5716

Summer program made up completely--from producer to cast--of local artists under 21.

* Camarillo Girls Softball Assn.

484-5501

Tournaments and league play.

* Camarillo Fishing Club

482-4390

Organizes fishing trips to different lakes throughout California, as well as deep-sea expeditions.

FILLMORE

* Recreation Department

524-4253

Offers dance, arts and crafts, and self-defense classes, tennis lessons and training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

* Fillmore Little League

524-5565

The league, which had 26 teams last season, is open to boys and girls ages 8 to 15.

* Fillmore Swim Team

Anyone can join. Works out at Fillmore High School. Call Fillmore Recreation Department for information.

* Lake Piru

521-1500

Camping, boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing.

* Short Line Enterprises

524-2546

Runs steam and diesel trains from Fillmore to Santa Paula. Barbecues and live music.

* Fillmore Bobby Sox

524-5125

Had 15 girls softball teams last season for ages 5 to 18.

MOORPARK

* Recreation Department

529-6864 or 531-9100

Offers classes on activities ranging from drawing to karate, sponsors excursions, camps and concerts.

* Moorpark College

378-1441

The college’s Exotic Animals Training and Management Program offers wildlife education shows on weekends. Also offers summer camps in science and other fields.

* Moorpark Melodrama

529-1212

Holds children’s theater workshop.

* Fieldstone Riding Club

529-9474

Offers horseback riding lessons.

* Moorpark Little League

529-2931

About 650 boys and girls ages 5 to 16 took part in the league last year.

OJAI

* Recreation Department

646-1872

Holds dances, offers tennis lessons, clinics and tournaments, Irish dance classes, art classes, gymnastics, karate, girls softball, summer day camps.

* Living Treasures

646-9590

Mentor group appoints Ojai celebrities and professionals to hold workshops and introduce local young people to their area of expertise.

* Ojai Illusions Theater

649-2324

Outdoor theater casts many young people in its productions.

* Ojai Valley Inn & Country Club

646-5511

Horseback riding lessons and guided trail rides on 800-acre ranch.

* Lake Casitas Recreation

649-2233

Camping, fishing.

* Ojai Valley Racquet Club

646-7213

Offers personalized fitness programs, tennis lessons, aerobics.

OXNARD

* Recreation Department

385-7992

Offers courses in cooking, cheerleading, singing, youth flag football and volleyball, boxing and other activities.

* Oxnard Stars

488-2578

Youth track group for boys and girls age 6 and up, with several levels of competition.

* Channel Islands Aquatics

488-5372

Currently at old Oxnard High School site, the club has competitive programs for boys and girls ages 5 to 20, and also runs a summer swimming lesson program for less experienced swimmers.

* Oxnard Tennis Center

483-2600

Classes, private lessons, team tennis leagues.

* Mackinnon Dance Co.

485-0115

Offers jazz, ballet, tap and Scottish highland dancing lessons for ages 3 and up. Three performing groups: the Macdancers (8 to 11), Pure Joy Moving Company (13 to 24) and Mackinnon Highlanders (all ages).

PORT HUENEME

* Hueneme Recreation Department

986-6555

Offers modern jazz classes, junior lifeguard program, ballet, tumbling and tennis.

* Walter Moody School of Tennis

986-6584

Offers tennis clinics and competitions.

* Tae Ryong Tae Kwon Do School

986-8425

Various levels of classes and competition. Home to teen-age martial arts sensation Debbie Chan.

* CBC Baseball

483-8115

Winter league for ages 8 to 12.

* Port Hueneme Pier

488-0083

Fishing, biking and in-line skating.

SANTA PAULA

* Recreation Department

933-4226

Courses in Polynesian dance, painting and cartooning, tennis and guitar. Four drop-in playground programs in summer.

* Santa Paula Youth in Action

525-1250

Runs popular lowrider bicycle club, as well as camping expeditions and graffiti paint-overs.

* 100 Hats Theater

645-5376

Drama courses, summer drama camp, teen workshop and also puts on performances, mostly by teen-agers.

* Santa Paula Little League

933-9944

Boys and girls ages 8 to 15.

* Santa Paula Blazers Youth Track Club

525-1008

Boys and girls ages 6 to 16, racing categories by age.

* Santa Paula Bobby Sox

525-2314

Softball tournaments and league play for girls 7 to 18. Summer and winter leagues.

SIMI VALLEY

* Rancho Simi

Recreation and Park District

584-4400

Offers a variety of arts and sporting activities, and coordinates teen-oriented entertainment events such as a summer series of “Punk in the Park” concerts.

* Easy Street Arena

520-7465

Ice-skating rink offers figure and hockey skating lessons and teams.

* Rosalie’s School of Dance

581-4423

Teaches ballet, jazz, hip-hop and tap dancing, and also has teen performing groups.

* Brunswick Bowl

584-2695

Offers bowling lessons and leagues for more experienced players.

* Creative Sewing

579-9356

Sewing classes for boys and girls ages 6 to 12.

* Simi Youth Baseball

583-4103

About 400 boys and girls ages 5 to 15 took part in this league last year.

THOUSAND OAKS

* Conejo Recreation and Park District

495-6471

Named top parks and recreation district in California last year. Offers courses and programs in music, theater, arts and sports as well as special teen events.

* Young Artists Ensemble

499-4355

More than 250 participate in this theater troupe’s productions every year. The ensemble recently performed “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Civic Arts Plaza.

* The Roller Dome

493-8800

Skating rink holds a roller hockey league for ages 5 to adult and family skating. Members-only club.

* Thousand Oaks Flyers Track Club

495-7363

A track team for boys and girls ages 7 to 14 offers various levels of competition.

* Thousand Oaks Cricket

498-6964

Non-structured cricket play, lessons and coaching.

* Daland Swim School

495-5210

Offers swim lessons, swim teams and water aerobics.

VENTURA

* Recreation Department

658-4726

Offers more than 100 cultural arts classes each season of the year. Also dozens of classes in such sports as tennis, golf, soccer and basketball.

* Tri-Valley Girls Softball

644-9210

More than 500 girls ages 5 to 15 play in this fast-pitch softball league.

* Golf N’ Stuff

644-7131

Bumper boats, go-carts, video games and miniature-golf courses.

* The Performance Studio

643-5701

Classes and performances in modern dance, ballet and improvisational theater.

* Ventura County Junior Tennis Assn.

648-3876

Holds 37 tournaments for novice and experienced boys and girls 6 to 18. Singles and doubles play.

* Sorisio Performance Studio

643-9427

A vocal studio with a mostly teen-age clientele where professional musicians offer private vocal lessons in classical, gospel, pop and theatrical singing. Also puts on performances throughout county.

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COUNTYWIDE

GROUP ACTIVITIES

* Boy Scouts of America, Ventura County Council

482-8938

With 280 Cub and Boy Scout troops and 7,100 members, the Boy Scouts are extremely active in Ventura County, organizing camping and hiking expeditions throughout California and beyond.

* Girl Scouts of the USA, Tres Condados Council

649-9363

About 6,000 Ventura County girls participate in the Girl Scouts, planting trees, helping senior citizens--and yes, selling cookies.

* 4-H Youth Program

645-1470

The University of California’s 4-H Youth Program allows youngsters to join small community clubs, where they can choose from more than 125 educational projects ranging from astronomy to zoology. A waiver is available for those who cannot afford the $10 membership fee.

* Camp Fire Boys and Girls Inc., Ventura County Council

485-3417

Provides year-round after-school programs for youngsters, including arts, crafts, music, games and outdoor activities.

* El Concilio del Condado de Ventura

983-2336

Offers recreation, counseling and cultural awareness programs for at-risk youths

* New West Symphony

643-8646

Has two youth symphonies, one in the Conejo Valley and another in the west county.

* Ventura County Master Chorale

983-0913

Offers children’s choir for ages 9 to 14.

* Youth for Christ

983-3636

Holds breakfast clubs for children where sketches are put on and morality is discussed.

Interface Children Family Services of Ventura County. 485-6114

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS

Although programs vary at each location, the Boys & Girls Clubs offer game rooms, after-school programs to help with homework, arts, crafts and cooking classes, and drop-in sports activities as well as leagues. Some also have free lunch programs, and most sponsor frequent trips to Raging Waters, Magic Mountain and other entertainment areas.

Camarillo: 482-8113

Fillmore-Piru: 524-0456

Moorpark: 529-1140

Oxnard: 483-6577

Port Hueneme: 488-3719

Santa Paula: 525-7910

Simi Valley: 527-4437

Ventura: 641-5599, 641-5588

YOUTH SOCCER

With more than 18,000 participants, the American Youth Soccer Organization is Ventura County’s largest sports league, offering soccer to boys and girls ages 4 to 18.

Camarillo: 484-9982

Fillmore: 524-6933

Moorpark: 523-8518

Newbury Park: 498-7284

Ojai: 649-1800

Oxnard: 988-1633

Port Hueneme / South Oxnard: 985-6987

Santa Paula: 525-9439

Simi Valley: 526-6547

Thousand Oaks: 492-0853

Ventura: 658-2976

Ventura County Soccer, a large league of about 70 teams, is prominent in the west county, primarily among Latinos. About half of the players are teen-agers. 486-9270

YOUTH BASKETBALL

Boys and girls basketball is also popular in Ventura County, with a variety of city and countywide leagues, most of which have varying degrees of competition.

Camarillo Youth Basketball Assn. 482-7256

Conejo Youth Basketball Assn. 492-6475

Fillmore Youth Basketball Assn. 524-2472

Moorpark Youth Basketball Assn. 529-7992

Newbury Park Athletic Assn. Youth Basketball. 498-5920

Santa Paula Youth Basketball League. 933-4217

Simi Valley Youth Basketball Assn. 584-4400

Ventura Youth Basketball Assn. 658-4749

*

Ventura County Youth Basketball Conference. An eight-team all-star league for boys and girls ages 8 to 13 where the cities’ best players compete for county hoops supremacy.

Agoura Youth Basketball. (818) 707-3157

Camarillo Youth Basketball. 482-3019

Conejo Youth Basketball. 493-1487

Newbury Park Panthers. 499-2739

Simi Valley Vikings. 526-6962

Ventura Force. 658-4749

Oxnard Breakers. 658-4749

Moorpark Youth Basketball 529-7913

YOUTH FOOTBALL

The Pacific Youth Football League, one of California’s largest sporting organizations, has a vibrant regional chapter that includes 14 Ventura County teams for boys 8 to 14.

Agoura / Oak Park Chargers: (818) 991-4874

Camarillo Roadrunners: 987-9539

Channel Islands Warriors: 983-2009

Conejo Cowboys: 584-0842

Fillmore Raiders: 524-4705

Moorpark Packers: 523-0705

Newbury Park Steelers: 498-5443

Ojai Eagles: 646-0910

Port Hueneme Rhinos: 486-1053

Santa Paula Junior Cardinals: 525-0156

Simi Valley Vikings: 522-2293

Ventura Packers: 647-5481

Westlake Braves: 494-6568

Gold Coast 49ers (Oxnard / Port Hueneme): 483-3673

YMCA

Swimming, racquetball, weight training. Also provides summer camps, fitness classes, non-competitive sport programs and parent-child events to promote togetherness.

Camarillo Family YMCA. 484-0423

Conejo Valley YMCA. 523-7613

Simi Valley Family YMCA. 583-5338

Ventura Family YMCA. 642-2131

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Compiled by MIGUEL BUSTILLO; digital imaging by ED TISHER.